Art exhibit, activities round out Edinboro festival

By Karen Rene MerkleContributing writer

May 17, 2012 01:00 PM

This glass jewelry is by TJ Gallery Glass, which will be conducting a glass-blowing demonstration on May 19, 2012, in the Artisans Tent at the Edinboro Arts & Music Festival. CONTRIBUTED/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

By Karen Rene MerkleContributing writer

May 17, 2012 01:00 PM

SEE IT

The Downtown Edinboro Art & Music Festival exhibit will be on display at the Catwater Who Signature Gallery, 111 Erie St., through June 18. The opening reception, 7-9 p.m. today, features music by Alan Freeman & Bob Shank; the auction of artwork, wines and spirits, and other items begins at 7:30 p.m. The gallery is open Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

DO ITMusic is the cornerstone of the Downtown Edinboro Art & Music Festival, not only listening to it, but also learning about it. Workshops from seasoned musicians, all of them free, are available, with some aimed for beginners and others for the more musically advanced.“We've expanded the workshops,” said Fred Parker, the festival founder. “We've expanded the children's activities. We're just forever trying to keep it a family-friendly fest with something for everybody of all ages.”Children can hear stories, sing, play with clay, paint and watch a blacksmith at work, among other activities. Here's the workshop and children's event schedule:

There's not only music in the air in Edinboro this weekend, you can also find it framed, hanging on walls and presented on pedestals.

Not the music itself, mind you, but music as inspiration is a major element of the art component of the Downtown Edinboro Art & Music Festival. All of the submitted works must be inspired by or themed in some way to music, Edinboro, and/or Appalachia, giving artists a broad range of ideas and imagery from which to draw.

The resulting exhibit featuring works by 21 artists can be seen at Edinboro's Catwater Who Signature Gallery tonight through June 18.

Gallery owner Heidi Strauser is in her fifth year heading up the festival's exhibit, and her primary goal for it remains the same. "I just want it to involve the community," she said. "Every year we seem to add new artists, and different media. This year it's not just paintings -- there are sculptures, wood turnings, ceramics, glass."

That community involvement extends to the unusual way the show is adjudicated. Artists are eligible to enter up to three pieces in any medium, and all works are included in the show. Then Strauser invites three guest judges -- a sponsor of the show, a patron of the festival and a representative from Edinboro University -- to each select their favorite piece. Those three artists each receive a $100 cash award.

It's always a tough decision for the judges, and, Strauser said: "There's always a surprise. What I would pick isn't always what they pick or what you would pick. They're told the themes, but what they choose and how they choose it is up to them."

This year's pool of talent will not make that selection any easier. Terrific explosions of color and pattern are offered by John Alexander, there's peaceful pastorals by Jack Paluh, and a lamp with glass globes was made by Herb Thomas. Six of the artists are exhibit rookies, including Bill Blasic, whose wood turned vessels celebrate both the organicness and the adaptability of wood, and Erin Wismer and her imperious and energetic equine portrait. Perhaps the most striking piece in the show is a Mary Hamilton sculpture called "West Virginia Diamond," a kinetic piece of metal shapes and wires on a coal base that's a departure -- but not an unwelcome one -- for a woman known for her beautiful paintings.

During tonight's opening reception, an auction will benefit the festival. Auctioneer Mark Tannenbaum will be taking bids on paintings by Kathy Travis and John Alexander as well as a necklace by jewelry designer Aileen Lampman; a Jack Daniels golf package with bag, putter, bottles of JD, and a certificate for four to golf at Culbertson Hills; a Napa Valley wine collection and an Italian wine collection; a Jack Daniels guitar; and more.

On Saturday, Goodell Gardens comes alive with more than music.

A Children's Tent, sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 56, will have hands-on art activities all afternoon

The Gardens will also host the Artisans' Tent on Saturday, where 24 artists will be selling their wares -- and many of them will be demonstrating their talents -- from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.